Gyan Jyoti Academy: Indian Orphanage School

Greg Varnau is organising this fundraiser.

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With Mt. Everest, Summits for Schools Returns!

On previous Summits of Mt. Kilamanjaro we raised funds for schools in Tanzania, Africa. We bought the students desks and notebooks. On previous Climbs of Mt. Denali we raised funds for Gyan Jyoti Academy in Bodhgaya, India. We bought the children food and emergency supplies during the early days of Covid-19.

After the successful summit of Mt. Everest via the Nepalese route, we are raising money once again for Gyan Jyoti Academy, the neighbouring school of Nepal, in Bodhgaya India.

I recently had the opportunity to spend time in Delhi and Rishikesh, India with the founder of the previous fundraiser for Gyan Jyoti Academy. His name is Vicky Kumar. And his story is truly inspiring.

(Vicky Kumar above)

Vicky came to visit me in Rishikesh after a Yoga training and while we were there we spent some time walking the streets near the Gangha river. There were some poor children begging on the streets who looked penniless and I offered them money to help them out. Later, as Vicky and I were walking the street back to our hotel he told me that I shouldn't give money to poor children. Why? I asked. Then he told me his story. His family are poor farmers and, as a little child growing up in Bodhgaya he couldn't afford to go to school. As a result, he got in the habit of begging for money. He said at first it felt rewarding because he'd get 50 rupees to help buy his family food, but then he noticed it was never enough. Next he wanted 60 rupees and before too long he could only think of 100 rupees. He said he was never satisfied when begging for money.

Well, one day a Buddhist (it may be worth noting that the Buddha was enlightened under the Bodhi tree in Bodhgaya) monk in the neighborhood began noticing Vicky and his habits of begging for money. One day the monk came up to him and asked him, "Why are you begging?" Vicky didn't have an answer and the monk walked him home to Vicky's parents house to tell them about it. The monk said, "You don't want to beg because you'll never be satisfied in the end." So after this moment, Vicky stopped begging.

A few weeks later, Vicky found out that the same monk had donated money to a school in Bodhgaya on his behalf. As a result, Vicky went to school, got educated, went to University and since then has had many successful office jobs. Today, Vicky helps his brother run the very school that he first became educated at, the one the monk donated money to. This is the Gyan Jyoti Academy.

If you can find it in your heart to offer money to this school, your funds will directly help children, each with a story similar to Vicky's. Some are orphans, some struggle to feed themselves, some are without any support. Your money will go directly into the hands of people on this planet who need it the most.

Thank you for your generosity.